Israel’s Netanyahu Says US Visit Was ‘Very Successful’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows a map of what he called the "New Middle East" during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows a map of what he called the "New Middle East" during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. (EPA)
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Israel’s Netanyahu Says US Visit Was ‘Very Successful’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows a map of what he called the "New Middle East" during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows a map of what he called the "New Middle East" during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. (EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrapped up his six-day US visit and arrived in Israel on Sunday, saying it was a “very successful trip”.

In a brief statement aboard the return flight, Netanyahu told delegation members that he “met with about 20 heads of state across five continents” and secured “many achievements.”

The PM was in the US to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The premier said he had “an excellent meeting with US President Joe Biden during which we discussed expanding the circle of peace, a continuation of the Abraham Accords that we [signed] three years ago.”

“I will continue to work hard to bring more achievements to our beloved country. More good news is coming,” he said.

Over the course of Netanyahu’s visit this week, which began with a sit-down with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the premier met with Biden and other world leaders, such as Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He spoke before the General Assembly, sat down with American-Jewish leaders and gave a number of television interviews in which he argued that he was trying to reach a compromise on his hardline coalition’s divisive bid to overhaul the judiciary.

The bid has sparked widespread, sustained protests that followed Netanyahu everywhere he went during his US visit.

On Saturday night, as his convoy left for the airport, hundreds protested outside in the rain, shouting “shame” and “democracy,” while police secured the area.



German FM Puts Emphasis on Close Ties before US Trip

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul attends a press conference in Beijing, China December 8, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul attends a press conference in Beijing, China December 8, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
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German FM Puts Emphasis on Close Ties before US Trip

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul attends a press conference in Beijing, China December 8, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul attends a press conference in Beijing, China December 8, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized the importance of transatlantic relations on Sunday as he ​left for a trip to Washington that takes place at a delicate time due to tensions over US interests in Greenland and Venezuela.

"Never before has it been so crucial to ‌invest in ‌the transatlantic partnership in ‌order ⁠to ​remain ‌capable of shaping the world order," Wadephul said in Berlin before his departure.

He said he would address what he called "differences of opinions" between Germany and the United States during ⁠a meeting on Monday with US Secretary ‌of State Marco Rubio.

"Where ‍there are ‍differences of opinion, we want ‍to address these differences through dialogue in order to fulfil our shared responsibility for peace and security," Wadephul said.

On ​his way to Washington, Wadephul plans to stop over in Iceland ⁠on Sunday, where a meeting on Arctic security is scheduled with his Icelandic counterpart in Reykjavik.

Later on Monday, he also plans to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"For Germany, reliability as an international partner clearly includes a commitment to international law and international cooperation," he said, ‌referring to the United Nations.


Israel Says Samoa to Open Embassy in Jerusalem

The runway of Jerusalem's Atarot airport, seen here in 2016, lies close to the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the main West Bank city of Ramallah. (AFP)
The runway of Jerusalem's Atarot airport, seen here in 2016, lies close to the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the main West Bank city of Ramallah. (AFP)
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Israel Says Samoa to Open Embassy in Jerusalem

The runway of Jerusalem's Atarot airport, seen here in 2016, lies close to the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the main West Bank city of Ramallah. (AFP)
The runway of Jerusalem's Atarot airport, seen here in 2016, lies close to the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the main West Bank city of Ramallah. (AFP)

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Sunday that Samoa will open an embassy in Jerusalem this year, a rare move as most foreign diplomatic missions to Israel are located in Tel Aviv.

Samoa will become the eighth country to open its mission in Jerusalem, and the third from the Pacific region after Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

"Just spoke with the Prime Minister of Samoa, La'auli Leuatea Schmidt. I thanked him for his moral decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem in 2026," Saar wrote on X, AFP reported.

"I also expressed our appreciation for Samoa's consistent support for Israel in the multilateral arena," he said, adding that he had invited the prime minister to visit Israel.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, in a move not recognized by the international community.

The Israeli government has a formal policy of offering incentives to countries willing to open embassies in Jerusalem, including financial support for relocation and setup costs.

This comes from a government-backed package aimed at encouraging diplomatic missions to the city. For some Pacific states, such support helps cover what would otherwise be a significant diplomatic expense.

Earlier this week, Schmidt said he instructed Samoa's foreign ministry to begin preparations for the embassy's opening by the end of the year, according to a recording of the speech posted on the Samoan government's Facebook page.

In the case of small states like Samoa, diplomatic backing from a globally connected country like Israel can help in areas like development assistance, trade opportunities, training programs and technical cooperation.

Another Pacific island state, Fiji, inaugurated an embassy in Jerusalem in September.

The only other countries to have their diplomatic missions in Jerusalem are the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay.

The dispute over Jerusalem's status and the presence of foreign embassies was reignited when US President Donald Trump broke with decades of international consensus and recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in his first term.

He opened his embassy there in 2018, sparking Palestinian anger and international condemnation.


Pope Prays for Dialogue, Peace in Iran and Syria

Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 21, 2015. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File Photo
Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 21, 2015. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File Photo
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Pope Prays for Dialogue, Peace in Iran and Syria

Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 21, 2015. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File Photo
Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 21, 2015. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File Photo

Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for those killed in protests in Iran and in the conflict in Syria during his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday, calling for dialogue and peace, AFP reported.

"My thoughts turn to what is happening these days in the Middle East, particularly in Iran and Syria, where persistent tensions are causing the deaths of many people."

"I hope and pray for the patient cultivation of dialogue and peace, for the common good of society as a whole," he added.